Man Who Coached At 15 NJ Schools Charged With Sex Assault: MCPO

NEW JERSEY – A teacher who coached at 15 different New Jersey high schools has been charged with sexual assault and possession of child pornography, according to authorities.

John M. Denuto, 43, a teacher at the Sayreville Middle School, was arrested on Saturday on multiple charges involving the sexual assault of a child he knew, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Denuto, a Spotswood resident, served as the head coach of Union County College's wrestling team until this weekend.

Denuto was fired from his coaching position and has been suspended with pay from his special education math teaching job in Sayreville, college and school officials told NJ Advance Media.

The Union County College website said Denuto helped lead many high school wrestling programs to success in his years serving as head or assistant coach, including 145 career wins with Clark, Sayreville, Pennsville and Camden Catholic.

"In the past three seasons, as assistant coach at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, Coach Denuto helped improve the team's record from 2-18 up to being named a top 10 team in New Jersey," the website said.

Denuto was the head high school wrestling coach at Sayreville and Spotswood, according to The Asbury Park Press. He also was an assistant wrestling coach at South Brunswick, Woodbridge and Raritan, and an assistant football coach at Monroe, Middletown North, Ocean Township, among others, according to The Asbury Park Press.

The charges stem from an October 2016 incident involving Denuto and a teen who was between 13 and 15 years old, according to NJ Advance Media. Denuto was accused of photographing a child in a sex act, according to the report.

Denuto earned his bachelor’s degree from Kean University and is a math teacher in Sayreville, according to the site.

Denuto was charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault, one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of second-degree filming child pornography and one count of third-degree possession of child pornography.

He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center pending a Detention Hearing.

The investigation is active and is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Daniel Ellmeyer of the Sayreville Police Department (732) 727-4444, or Detective Julissa Alvarado of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3711.